Everyone Should be Entitled to Healthy
Food - You can Prescribe a Special Diet
Needs Supplement
"Good nutrition is a cornerstone of good
health…it costs more to eat healthy and
nutritiously."
-Dr. Stephen Huang MD, St. Michael's
Hospital, Inner City Health.
Health professionals carry the
responsibility to ensure that they use all
means available to them to improve the
health of the individuals that they serve,
and to prevent future disease and
health conditions.
Most health practitioners know that
those on social assistance are not able
to afford nutritious foods or even
sufficient amounts of food, but many are
not aware of the extra dietary funds that
are available after consideration by a
health practitioner.
Responsible nurse practitioners and
physicians cannot, in good conscience,
ignore the special needs diet
supplement that is available to all
recipients of welfare and disability (OW
and ODSP).
A number of Toronto physicians have
taken the position that all clients can
justifiably benefit from vitamins, organic
foods and high fiber diets as a
preventative health measure.
We know that income is one of the
greatest predictors of poor health. The
special needs diet is a health promotion
intervention which will prevent numerous
future health conditions, including
chronic conditions such as
cardiovascular disease, cancer,
diabetes and osteoporosis.
The full supplement is something that
people need and deserve - please
support this campaign.
For more information, contact the
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty at
ocap@tao.ca or (416) 835-9575.
1. Inform Your Patients about the Special
Needs Diet
This money is available to any recipient
who has a form or letter from a physician
or nurse practitioner, but most people
don’t know about this supplement and
don’t receive it.
2. Prescribe Special Needs Diets to
Patients on OW or ODSP
“The first question always asked is , are
all these people scamming the system? I
would say "no". When Harris came in,
they reduced all benefits by 25%. The
allowance for an individual is about
$500.00 per month and a drug card. The
cheapest room in a large city is at least
$350 to $400. There is isn't much
left for food. Rather than dismissing them
as scammers, help if you can.”
-Dr. Roland Wong MD
 For patients on OW, prescribe items
that the patients needs on a prescription
pad or letterhead. The patient can
return this to their OW office.
 Patients on ODSP needs a special
diets form, on which a medical
practitioner must state that the patient
has "medical conditions" requiring the
special diet. Think "prevention." The
medical condition that qualifies all social
assistance recipients is "risk of nutritional
deficiency" which we know leads to
acute conditions like anemia or folate
deficiency as well as chronic conditions
such as heart disease and osteopenia.
 There are no repercussions to
providers for prescribing the full amount.
Social Services can't ask for a medical
release of information under the special
diet legislation and cannot request to
see medical records of your clients with
special diet needs.
3. Hold A Clinic for your Clients
Many Community Health Centres and
other providers have chosen to hold
clinics to allow many patients to get
signed up for the supplement at one
time.
Initiated by the Ontario Coalition Against
Poverty, these clinics have brought
together community organizers,
community health centers, health
practitioners, and individuals, who
believe that poverty is the primary
determinant of poor health. We believe
that rates must be increased to address
the health problems of all people on
social assistance, kids, elders, people
with HIV/AIDS – everyone.
Even in the context of understaffing, it
could be considered a priority activity
that has potentially important health
promotion benefits. Many clients can
be processed in a two hour clinic. Most
providers find it a very interesting,
rewarding undertaking.
Please contact OCAP for more
information or to set up a clinic:
(416) 925-6939 or ocap@tao.ca.
General tips:
1) More than one type of diet may be
prescribed
2) For all clients, consider
“vitamin/mineral/herbal supplements”
($40), “organic diet” ($190), “bottled
water” ($30)
3) All women can get extra monies
during pregnancy and while
breastfeeding ($30-$50)
4) Monies are allowed for clients with
dietary restrictions including egg free
($10), milk/dairy free ($35-$95), wheat
free ($38-98), gluten free ($58-147),
reduced phosphorus or protein ($30), low
fat, low cholesterol, sugar free ($20),
sodium reduced ($12-44), low residue
($12)
5) In clients having or at risk of
osteoporosis consider “high calcium”
diet ($30)
6) In clients with low BMI, consider “high
calorie/high protein” diets ($30-150)
7) In clients with difficulty chewing or
swallowing consider “prepared
supplements” - you may choose the #
servings/day ($24-240)
8) In clients with recurrent cystitis or at
risk for same, consider “cranberry juice”
($32)
9)Consider diets for conditions including
cystic fibrosis, diabetes, gestational
diabetes ($42-150)
10) Consider “organic diet” ($190)
especially for anyone who would benefit
from pesticide/toxin free food (liver
condition, renal disease, history of
cancer or environmental sensitivities or
anyone concerned about food-borne
toxins)
11) In clients having or at risk for iron
deficiency anemia consider “iron rich”
diet ($30)
12) Consider “prunes” ($10)and “high
fibre” ($22) allowances for those with
chronic constipation or who are taking
chronic constipating medications
In 2004 the Ontario Coalition for Social
Justice found that a Toronto family with
two adults and two kids receives
$14,316. This is $21,115 below the poverty
line.
“Before, we couldn't even pay the rent
at the end of the month. Now, we can
pay the rent and now we can actually
have decent health foods to eat. We
don't have to go to the food bank.’”
-Marcel Rodden, OW recipient
(toronto.cbc.ca, April 7 2005)